Black-streaked dwarf disease causes total loss of over 1,400 hectares of winter-spring rice

((Baonghean.vn) - Due to the complicated weather, pests and diseases have caused widespread damage in Que Phong, causingmore than 1,424 hectares of ricerisk of total loss and more than 480 hectares damaged from 30 - 70%.

Officials from the Plant Protection Station and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Que Phong district talked with Mr. Quang Van Sinh, Co Noong village, Muong Noc commune, where 1,200 hectares of rice were completely destroyed by pests. Photo: Nguyen Hai

The cause of the crop failure, according to the assessment of the District Plant Protection Station, is the black-striped dwarf disease that damages rice. This is a viral disease of rice and corn, for which there is currently no cure and it spreads very quickly, making it difficult to control.

According to agricultural engineers, when infected with black-streaked dwarf disease, rice plants still grow but then become stunted and wither, turning brown and black. When the rice flowers, the grains are empty. Photo: Nguyen Hai

After detecting the epidemic, the district reported to the Plant Protection Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for advice and instructed people on some treatment measures, but partly due to the frequent rainy weather, the spraying measures were ineffective.

A farmer in Choi village, Chau Kim commune is harvesting rice damaged by livestock, and also treating the fields to prepare for the spring crop. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Mr. Lang Van Minh - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee said: almost all rice varieties grown in 13 communes were affected, in which new varieties such as hybrid rice and natural rice that are sensitive to weather conditions were the most affected.

Information from the People's Committee of Que Phong district said that the black-striped dwarf disease that occurred in 2009 has now reappeared and spread very quickly. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Currently, along with guiding and urging communes to handle and overcome damage to prepare for the Winter-Spring crop production, the district is developing a plan to convert the area of ​​​​dwarf rice with black stripes to grow winter crops in 2017. Accordingly, along with directing people to absolutely not plant corn, the district allocates a budget to support 1.5 million VND/ha for the rice area with damage from 30-70% and support 2 million VND/ha if 100% of the area is lost./.

Nguyen Hai